“Apostles’ Testimony of Christ,” Friend, Dec. 2001, 12
Apostles’ Testimony of Christ
Chapter 32
Jesus was with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi. He asked His disciples who people thought that He was. Matt. 16:13; Mark 8:27; Luke 9:18
The disciples said that some people thought that He was John the Baptist. Others thought that He was Elias or another Old Testament prophet and had come back from the dead. Matt. 16:14; Mark 8:28; Luke 9:19
Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt. 16:15–16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20
Jesus explained that a testimony could not come from the learning of men. A testimony comes by revelation from God. This was how Peter knew who Jesus was. Matt. 16:17
Jesus also said that the true church would be founded upon Him and His teachings. He promised His disciples that He would give them the priesthood so that they would have the authority to lead His church. Matt. 16:18–19
Finally, He told them not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. First He needed to suffer many things, to be rejected by the leaders of the Jews, to be slain, and to rise from the dead on the third day. Matt. 16:20; Mark 8:30–31; Luke 9:21–22
Illustrated by Robert T. Barrett